The monkey, along with the crane, was a symbol of the wild, unfettered life, the unspoiled beauty of nature, for which the civilized, city-stiffled Chinese longed. This unlikely pair was also fondly spoken of as the perfect companions: The Zen master Dogen noting that if he used the title and robe conferred upon him by the emperor, he would be "laughed at by the monkeys and cranes among whom he lived as the old man in the purple robe."